When Values End at the Border: EU Surveillance Exports and Human Rights Risks
Domain:
peace and securityRecord type:
The paper examines the dissonance between the EU’s foundational values, particularly its commitment to human rights, and its export practices of digital and AI-enabled surveillance technologies. Focusing on the EU Dual-Use Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2021/821), the paper uses Morocco as a case study to assess how EU-origin and EU-funded technologies have been deployed to facilitate human rights abuses in contexts with limited judicial oversight and restricted civic space. The research draws on EU legal documents, human rights reports, NGO investigations, and thematic studies, such as the 2023 Institute of Development Studies report Mapping the Supply of Surveillance Technologies to Africa. The study scrutinises the regulatory framework, identifies discrepancies in its application, and evaluates the broader human rights implications. The findings reveal a significant gap between EU human rights rhetoric and action, emphasising the need for robust policy reforms to align external actions with foundational values. The paper concludes by outlining recommendations to strengthen EU surveillance governance and ensure that technology exports uphold human rights.